Salinity tolerance of lentil is achieved by enhanced proline accumulation, lower level of sodium uptake and modulation of photosynthetic traits

Lentil (Lens culinaris, Medik.), an accessible low-cost high-quality protein form for many people, is a salt-sensitive legume, which already at electrical conductivity (EC) of 3 dS/m (~30 mM NaCl) has yield loss about 90% compared to other crops. Identifying salinity-tolerant lentil germplasm nowadays primary importance ensuring the production superfood and sustainability industry. In this study, four cultivars Castelluccio di Norcia, Eston, Ustica Pantelleria were grown up complete life cycle, in open field, soils conditioned with 100 NaCl same unsalinized soils. Growth parameters, osmolytes phenotypic characteristics lentils assessed. Our results evidenced different mechanisms specific each tolerant cultivar. was cultivar that mostly accumulated sodium shoot root used it addition proline as osmoregulatory. less calcium than but more chlorine enhanced also sulphates two resistant cultivars, producing time osmolytes. The preference ion uptake compartmentalization can depend on growth environment. PANT UST are islander, therefore, prevalently contact chlorine, while CAST originated from central Italy cultivated soil where sulphate most abundant element.